Smaller Race Boat - Recommendations

[Ducati]

Our boat and sails got pretty beat up racing this year (not surprised) and my better half is none to pleased about this. I'm giving some though to retiring her from events and looking for a smaller boat that we can use to race.

My favorites include a J24 or a J35.

Looking for suggestions from others who race on smaller boats with crews of 3-5. Also, the cost is a big factor as we would now have two boats to deal with which can get pretty expensive.

 

[tommays]

What level do you want to race at as being competitive in a J24 even at the upper local level is a pretty costly endeavor with a one season Genoa cost up to 2200 dollars and a decent NON-PROJECT boat would be 15 to 20 K


Vs kicking around in and older somewhat beatup one with a bit tired sails having fun at a pretty low cost

 

[Ed Schenck]

This boat, the Holder 20, is unbeatable in light air on our lake. And the fleet includes at least three 'J' boats. http://www.sailingtexas.com/sholder20101.html

Just looked again and the actual boat is still listed two years later: http://www.sailingtexas.com/sholder20113.html . My friend sold me his C-22 which he raced successfully. Then tried a Cal before buying this Holder.

 

[Alex Dare]

Really depends on what's popular and the strength of your local fleets. Around here we call the J24 "the shitty little pain box" as its not always the most comfortable on heavy air days. Does have a hell of a class following even after all these years but good competitive boats can be $$.

Couple suggestions:
J22, Soling, Lightning, Comet, Etchells 22....

 

[higgs]

Here on Lake Ontario, if I were looking for a race boat I would go with a 70s vintage Pearson 30 or a tallrig, deep keel Catalina 30. Both have gift ratings.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Your preference in a small boat is a J/35? From what size boat are you dropping down to? Someone mentioned an Etchells 22. This boat is really 30 feet with a 22 foot waterline, so it might not be considered a "small boat", but then if you include a J/35 as a small boat, then maybe. Small boats I would consider is a J/22 (not much better than this little rocketship and you only need a crew of 3 to race). Also, for boats that are actually fast (not like a Catalina or O'Day 22), I would also consider a Lindenberg 22, Creekmore 22 or 23 or 24, a Pocket Rocket 22 (or the newer design, the Rocket 22), or a Ultimate 20, Holder 20, Martin 242, and moving up to a bit larger, the J/24, Wavelength 24, Farr 727 (24'), Merit 25, but these boats require 4-5 crew and sails are spendier. If you want something easier to sail, that is familly friendly, and is very fast, try a J/80. That's my 2-cents.

 

[shemandr]

I know a nice Ranger 26, with good sail, that if for sale.

 

[Clark]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Capri 22. They are pretty quick for a production boat; cost to buy is great and parts (and sails) are reasonable. A crew of 3 can handle a lot of wind; especially in a standard rig. Tip: if that is your choice, go with the fin keel model.

 

[Alan]

I agree with Bill, a J24 and a J35 are VERY different boats. To be competitive with a J35 you need a crew of a least 7. A J24 requires 4. And the cost to run a racing program on the 35 will be 4 or 5 times that of the 24. A freind of mime campaigned his Melges 24 for several years and his budget was a modest 20K annually. However if you're just doing local beer can racing the competition and the cost go way down.
You don't mention the type of competition that you are facing. If you have a good OD fleet you might be better off buying one of those boats. If it's a PHRF fleet then I would look for a sleeper that could kick some ass. The older Hunter 26.5 would be one of my choices but it would need upgrading to ring all the speed out of it that it's capable of.

 

[Bad Obsession]

A cool trailer sailor is a Trip 26. A friend of mine had one and it was FAST!

Have you looked at the J22?

 

[Bad Obsession]

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/15089

 

[filthy liberal scum]

first question you have to ask yourself!

do you want to race one design or handicap. after you answer that question then go from there.

 

[Cherie320]

Re: first question you have to ask yourself!

A Santana 20 is an inexpensive racer. But, if you want to go a bit faster, someone is going to buy the trailerable Hobie 33 that keeps showing up on in the sailboat for sale searches.

 

[higgs]

If cost is a factor, forget J boats as those fleets are very competitive which means you will need to buy new sails fairly often. For a competitive boat at moderate cost I stand by my earlier post of a Pearson 30 or Catalina 30.

 

[sinnettc]

Wavelength 24's are pretty popular on our lake and they have a good sized one design fleet here.

There's several other Capri 22's but none of us appear to race, though my boat is a retired racer. Prior owner raced phrf, and consistently won; he bought a Wavo so he could do more competetive one design.

 

[Cayennita]

Even 7 people is not enough to hold down a J-35. Also it is masthead and has runners. The genoas (155%) and the spinnakers are also larger than on a Beneteau 36.7. It would be much a more expensive program. There are many J-35's available, race ready in the $35k range. Boats are almost 30 years old and a balsa core hull that may have water saturation problems. I race a J-36 (older) with a 600# bulb added to the keel and only 120% jib. Simpler and cheaper.
As some else mentioned, what do you want? One design or PHRF. In the Virgin Islands we have modified about 30 J-24's with a Melges 24 type cockpit that makes it a delight to sail. Google the IC 24 web site.

 

[JVB]

The little San Juan 21's do very well in the spinnaker class of my lake's racing fleet.

 

[Garrett Holcombe]

A Mirage 236 is a very fast boat - we have one in our club that's been well used and still destroys the competition. In light air she ghosts right along and sails like a dinghy, in heavy winds she rockets along and would definitely need 3-4 people to hold her down. I've crewed a bit on her and boy...she's lightning quick!

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

I agree with others here. What type of boat you buy to race should really be determined by what kind of racing you are going to do. Competitive fleet or beer can racing? One Design or PHRF? Having owned a race boat for years the biggest issue was finding and keeping crew. Trust me, crew come and go more than they stay (although perhaps that is just me :cry.

Again, a J24 is no way to downsize. I have crewed on both J24's and J22's and both are lots of work plus you can't race either of those boats without being fully rigged for a spin.

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Douglast]

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/15089

very nice...it catches my eye..